Post Hair Loss Questions and Get Answers

Dozens of alleged treatments for female and male pattern baldness are manufactured and advertised every year. The question is – do any of these products actually work to stop hair loss or regrow lost hair?

Zenagen advanced hair solution is a shampoo that claims to block DHT (dihydrotestosterone), reduce hair shedding, and speed up hair growth all for approximately $17 per month. But is there any clinical evidence to suggest this shampoo is a successful solution for hair loss?

Recently, new forum member “Grany” who claims to be a physician asked the members of our community for feedback on Zenagen shampoo. You are encouraged to offer your input and/or experience with Zenagen on our hair restoration forum.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
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Technorati Tags: male pattern baldness, hair loss, Zenagen, hair solution, DHT, dihydrotestosterone, hair shedding, hair growth, Zenagen shampoo, hair restoration, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

I have two questions concerning long-term hair restoration goals. Regarding medications, doesn’t Propecia lose its effectiveness over time? Also, what happens when patients’ donor hair starts to thin? I was told that hair from the “safe zone” eventually becomes susceptible to Male Pattern Baldness. If these things are true, how can anyone guarantee lasting results?

This hair loss question was answered by Dr. Cam Simmons of Toronto, Canada, who is a highly esteemed member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.

I know some patients who have taken Propecia (finasteride) since 1997 (before they met me) who feel that they haven’t lost more hair, and some who have had a slow decline.

Some hair follicles in the donor area may be affected by DHT, but most aren’t in most men. Take a look at the seniors you meet or pass in a day. In a few, you can see through their hair on the sides, but not in most. Some men can get generalized thinning of all of their hair in advanced age, called senile alopecia.

I just did a touch-up hair transplant for a 68 year-old man who had 4 sessions from 1976 to 1980 and the transplanted hair was still there. His hair was about 2 inches long, and the rows and rows of punch graft scars did not show. The scars made up about half of his 9mm wide, 30cm long donor strip, but we still managed to get 1408 grafts.

While no cure for hair loss yet exists, millions of balding men and women worldwide hope that hair multiplication (HM) will end baldness once and for all. By cloning derma papilla cells and injecting them into hairless scalp tissue, hair multiplication/cloning may eventually provide balding men and women with an unlimited supply of their own natural hair.

Intercytex and Aderans Research Institute are two major contenders in developing hair cloning amongst other treatments. However recently, Intercytex announced that they’re closing the doors after several long hard years of working to develop this hair loss treatment.

Patrick Hennessey, publisher of the Hair Transplant Network visited Intercytex’s hair multiplication operation in Manchester, England when he visited the Farjo Clinic back in May of 2007. While they appeared to have good management and promising preliminary results, their subsequent Phase II testing on humans failed to produce cosmetically significant hair regrowth.

Given the inconsistencies in hair growth observed in clinical studies, it would appear that discovering the potential of hair multiplication is still in its infancy stages. It’s suggested that the key to success may lie in growing stem cells in vitro to a hair follicle stage and then transplanting the hair follicles using today’s state of the art surgical hair restoration techniques.

To learn more about Intercytex and who may be taking over their research, visit “Intercytex discontinues its hair multiplication development operations”. You can also discuss this topic on our hair restoration forum.

This informative article was written by Dr. Michael Meshkin of Newport Beach, CA who is one of our recommended hair restoration physicians.

Finasteride (Propecia), an oral medication available by prescription only, has been introduced to the market in the past decade. Finasteride is approved only for use by men. Through scientific studies, it has been shown to regrow hair in some men and stop hair loss in an even higher percentage. Finasteride works by decreasing the formation of DHT, a hormone responsible in large for male pattern hair loss, while not reducing testosterone, the overall male hormone responsible for masculinity. Therefore, any side effects that may involve male sexual function are mild and occur in less than 2% of all patients.

Finasteride has been available for over 10 years and has been shown to be somewhat safe and effective. Finasteride (Propecia) works best for early and moderate hair loss, but it may also help patients with more advanced hair loss to preserve their remaining hair, and its use is suggested by hair restoration surgeons as an effective medication to slow down or reverse male pattern hair loss in many men. It is often used as a complimentary treatment for hair transplant patients.

Topical minoxidil (Rogaine) has been around for over 15 years and is helpful in slowing down hair loss, but less effective in helping new hair to grow. A higher concentration (5% solution) of minoxidil is now available for men and has been shown to be more effective than the 2% solution. 5% minoxidil solution is generally not recommended for use by women because it may stimulate the growth of facial hair, and also because at least one study suggests that it is not more effective than the 2% in females.

Hi. I was just wondering about something: Is there any particular kind of hat I can wear while applying Rogaine?

Just to clarify, there is no practical, recommended way to apply Rogaine (minoxidil) while you are wearing a hat. I suppose it might be remotely possible to treat the area through the open space above the adjuster in the back of a baseball cap, but this would be time consuming and counterproductive.

Consumer medical information for the original formula advised users to wait at least an hour after using Rogaine before putting a hat on; however, Rogaine Foam is absorbed into the scalp more quickly. Many users consider this to be the  superior method for topically treating thinning hair.

In my opinion, as long as the area has completely dried and no residue remains, you’re free to wear your cap or apply other hair care products in moderation such as gel or hairspray after minoxidil. Using a blow dryer on a light, cool setting (never hot) can speed up the drying process without causing breakage or  inducing further hair loss. For more information, I suggest you visit the company’s official site and browse through the Q & A section.

Anthony – Editorial Assistant / Forum Co-Moderator of the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q&A Blog.
To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit out Hair Restoration Discussion Forum.
Follow our community on Twitter.
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube.

Our popular hair loss forum community includes dozens of active patient and physician members devoted to answering your hair loss questions daily. Get past the hype and learn about proven treatments that really work to stop baldness.

Below, we’ve compiled answers to hot topic hair loss questions we received from our Publishers and expert hair restoration physicians.

Dealing with the Depression of Hair Loss at a Young Age: Many young men and women experiencing balding begin suffering from depression. Read this article to learn why what’s in your head is more important than what’s on it.

Are Hair Transplant Megasessions Safe? Learn why Coalition member Dr. Timothy Carman believes that large densely packed hair transplant sessions can be appropriate for some, but not all patients.

Is FUE the Solution for Young Hair Loss Sufferers? Learn why recommended physician Dr. Cam Simmons believes FUE is overhyped and why patients considering hair transplant surgery should be thinking long term.

What to Do in the Event of Propecia Side Effects: Though Propecia (finasteride) is arguably the most effective non-surgical hair loss treatment available, many men are concerned about the possibility of sexual side effects. Read this article and learn what to do in the event you experience side effects.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

The notion that injuring the scalp can potentially increase the effectiveness of proven topical hair loss treatments has caught the attention of our hair restoration forum community.  The Nanogen Scalproller claims it can help treat thinning hair and improve the effects of any topical treatment for baldness by slightly wounding the skin with its small titanium needles.  Allegedly, the wounds allow for quick and efficient penetration and absorption of topical hair loss treatments into the skin.

To discuss the Nanogen Scalproller and its ability in aiding the effectiveness of proven treatments such as Rogaine foam, visit this discussion thread.

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair loss treatments, thinning hair, baldness, Nanogen Scalproller, Bill Seemiller, Falceros

I am very bald. The crown of my head almost completely bald as is the top of my head. The crazy thing is that I am only 20 years old!

I have looked online and read a few things and have yet to find someone who has had issues with balding that are as worse than or even equal to mine. I was maybe in my second year of highschool when I noticed it. I told people that I thought I was starting to experience hair loss and everyone told me I was crazy. By the time I graduated these same people were telling me that there are solutions to hair loss. Two years later people told me to shave it all the way off. I was good looking in highschool, played on the basketball team, had many girlfriends, great confidence and I felt like I was on top of the world. Since I noticed myself balding all of these things slowly went out the window, my confidence, the cute girls, and my over all happiness.

The first step to taking control over your hair loss is to learn about and understand it. Learn what causes hair loss. It’s also important to learn to recognize and eradicate all hair loss myths from your memory. Unfortunately, there is no cure for thinning hair. However, the more you learn about balding and its causes, the better chance you’ll develop realistic hair restoration goals and expectations.

Balding men and women with minimal hair loss are usually at a great advantage over those who’ve already lost a great deal of hair. Propecia (finasteride) for men only and Rogaine (minoxidil) for men and women have been proven effective in slowing down, stopping, and even reversing hair loss. Treating baldness early can often save much of a person’s natural hair from falling out due to genetics, the most common cause of hair loss today.

Hair transplantation may be a viable option for t hose w ho are qualified. Because hair transplant results vary, it’s important to select a surgeon with an excellent reputation for producing consistent quality results and standing behind their patients. The Hair Transplant Network has carefully reviewed many physicians over the last 10 years by gathering patient experiences and visiting their clinics to determine who is worth recommending. You are encouraged to carefully evaluate any clinic you are considering for surgery. You can search through over 10 years of patient posted experiences and photos by using the find feature on our hair restoration forum. To see a full listing of those physic ians we recommend, click here.

Our popular hair loss forum community includes dozens of active patient and physician members devoted to answering your hair loss questions daily.  Get past the hype and learn about proven treatments that really work to stop baldness.

Below, we’ve compiled answers to hot topic hair loss related questions we received from our Associate Publisher Bill Seemiller and expert hair restoration physicians. 

Feel free to ask your own questions and get answers on our hair restoration forum or privately by using the “contact us” form. 

Do All Good Doctors Shave the Patient’s Head for Hair Transplant Surgery? (Dr. Glenn Charles)

Can Saw Palmetto Really Reduce Hair Loss?

Can Oxygen Deprivation Cause Hair Loss? (Dr. Scott Alexander)

Creating a Natural Looking Female Hairline with a Hair Transplant (Dr. Bernard Nusbaum)

Bill Seemiller – aka Falceros
Managing Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Hair Loss Learning Center, the Hair Loss Q&A Blog, and the Hair Restoration Forum
Follow our community on Twitter
Watch hair transplant videos on YouTube

Technorati Tags: hair loss, baldness, Bill Seemiller, hair restoration, Bill Seemiller, Falceros